§ 18.42.120 — Standards for Specific Sign Types

A. Awning and Canopy Signs. The following standards shall apply to all signs placed on an awning or canopy attached to a structure. See Figure 3-17 (Awning and Canopy Sign). 1. Lettering, logos, symbols, and graphics are allowed on up to 25 percent of the area of a shed (slope) portion of the awning and valance portion of the awning. Signs shall be applied flat against the awning surface. In the case of a barrel shaped (curved) awning, signs shall not occupy more than 60 percent of the bottom 12 inches of the awning. 2. Only permanent signs that are an integral part of the awning are allowed. Temporary signs shall not be placed on awnings or canopies. 3. Awning signs are allowed for first and second story commercial and mixed-use occupancies only. No awning signs shall be allowed above the second floor. 4. Awnings shall conform to the size and shape of the window or door above which they are located. Subject to the determination of the Director, overly large awnings and awnings with unusual shapes designed for the purpose of providing additional sign area are not allowed. 5. A minimum of eight feet of clearance shall be provided between the lowest part of an awning or canopy and the grade below. 6. External illumination with a full cut-off floodlight is permitted. 7. Awnings and canopies shall not be constructed of translucent materials and shall not be lighted from under the awning/canopy (back-lit awning) so that the awning/canopy appears internally illuminated. Figure 3-18 Awning and Canopy Sign B. Subdivision Entry Signs. 1. Individual Subdivision entry signs shall not exceed 75 square feet of total sign area (a double-sided subdivision entry sign would equal 37.5 square feet per side). See Figure 3-18 (Subdivision Entry Sign). 2. Subdivision entry signs shall not exceed a height of six feet. 3. Monument style subdivision entry signs are allowed; all other sign types for subdivision entry signs are prohibited. 4. A minimum of 50 percent of the sign area shall be devoted to subdivision identification. 5. Up to 30 percent of the sign area may be devoted to individual business or organization logos. 6. External illumination is permitted. Figure 3-19 Subdivision Entry Sign C. Directional and Directory Signs. 1. Directional Signs. See Figure 3-19 (Directional Sign). a. Directional signs shall not be counted against allowable sign area, unless the signs include business logo, name, or advertising. If a business logo, name, or advertising is a component of a directional sign, then the area of the sign devoted to the logo, name, or advertising will be counted toward the allowable sign square footage. b. If the directional sign is located within the visibility clearance area of any driveway or intersection, it shall not exceed three feet in height. c. Directional signs shall not exceed six square feet of sign area. d. External illumination is permitted. e. Freestanding signs shall not be located on the subject property and not within a dedicated utility easement. Figure 3-20 Directional Sign 2. Directory Signs. See Figure 3-20 (Directory Sign). a. Directory signs shall not be counted in the allowable sign area based on frontage, unless the business logo, name, or advertising is used. If a logo is a component of a directory sign, then the square footage of the portion of the sign that is advertising the specific establishment will be counted toward the total allowable square footage of sign area. b. Directory signs shall not exceed 16 square feet of sign area. c. Directory signs shall not exceed six feet in height. d. If the directory sign is located within the visibility clearance area of any driveway or intersection, it shall not exceed three feet in height. e. Directory signs shall be placed in a landscaped bed and shall have a minimum of two square feet of landscaping for every square foot of sign area measured at the base of the sign. f. External or internal illumination is permitted. External illumination by downward lighting is prohibited. Figure 3-21 Directory Sign D. Electronic Digital Display Message Signs. See Section 18.42.130 (Electronic Digital Display Message Signs) for development standards and permit requirements. E. Freestanding and Monument Signs. 1. Freestanding Signs. a. A freestanding sign is allowed by the provisions of this Chapter provided the freestanding sign complies with the provisions of this Chapter. b. Freestanding signs may not exceed 150 square feet of sign area per individual sign (a double-sided freestanding sign would equal 75 square feet per side). c. Freestanding signs not exceeding six feet in height and thirty 30 square feet in total sign area are allowed, at a minimum setback of four feet behind parcel line. d. Freestanding signs shall not exceed a height of 20 feet. e. If the freestanding sign is within the visibility clearance area of any driveway or intersection, it shall not exceed three feet in height. f. Freestanding signs shall not be located within a dedicated utility easement. g. To ensure the readability, the minimum letter size required on all freestanding signs shall be 10 inches. Sign copy shall not be located closer than one half-letter height to the sign edge or other line of copy. h. External illumination with a hooded floodlight is prohibited. Internal illumination is permitted. i. Freestanding signs shall be placed in a landscaped bed and shall have a minimum of two square feet of landscaping for every square foot of sign area measured at the base of the sign. 2. Monument Signs. See Figure 3-21 (Monument Sign). a. A Monument sign is allowed by the provisions of this Chapter provided the monument sign complies with the provisions of this Chapter. b. Monument signs may not exceed 100 square feet of sign area per individual sign (a double-sided freestanding sign would equal 50 square feet per side). c. Monument signs not exceeding four feet in height and thirty (30) square feet in total sign area are allowed, at a minimum setback of four feet behind parcel line. d. Monument signs shall not exceed a height of 12 feet. e. If the monument sign is within the visibility clearance area of any driveway or intersection, it shall not exceed three feet in height. f. Monument signs shall not be located within a dedicated utility easement. g. To ensure the readability, the minimum letter size required on all monument signs shall be six inches. Sign copy shall not be located closer than one half-letter height to the sign edge or other line of copy. h. External illumination with a hooded floodlight is permitted. Internal illumination is permitted. i. Monument signs shall be placed in a landscaped bed and shall have a minimum of two square feet of landscaping for every square foot of sign area measured at the base of the sign. Figure 3-22 Monument Signs F. Freeway- and Expressway-Oriented Signs. See Figure 3-22 (Freeway- and Expressway-Oriented Sign). 1. Freeway- and Expressway-Oriented signs shall be located on the same parcel on which the structure or use is being advertised. 2. Freeway- and Expressway-Oriented signs shall not exceed 30 feet in height. 3. Freeway- and Expressway-Oriented signs may only be located on parcels located no more than 500 feet from the outside edge of a freeway right-of-way. 4. Freeway- and Expressway-Oriented signs shall not be placed within 750 feet of another freeway-oriented sign. 5. Freeway- and Expressway-Oriented signs shall not exceed 200 square feet in sign area. 6. Freeway- and Expressway-Oriented signs shall require the approval of a Conditional Use Permit in compliance with Chapter 18.114 (Conditional Use Permits and Minor Use Permits). 7. External illumination is prohibited. 8. Freeway- and Expressway-Oriented signs shall be placed in a landscaped bed and shall have a minimum of two square feet of landscaping for every square foot of sign area measured at the base of the sign. Figure 3-23 Freeway- and Expressway-Oriented Sign G. Luminous Tube Signs (neon). See Figure 3-23 (Luminous Tube Sign). 1. Tubing shall not exceed one-half inch in diameter. 2. Luminous tube lighting adjacent to residential uses shall not exceed one half foot-candle measured at the property line where the sign is located. 3. No luminous sign containing red or green colors shall be erected within 150 feet of an intersection containing traffic lights. 4. Luminous tubes shall not be combined with any reflective materials (e.g., mirrors, polished metal, highly glazed tiles, or other similar materials). 5. Luminous tube lighting shall not be used to surround a window, door, or similar element except as part of an allowed sign. Figure 3-24 Luminous Tube Sign H. Painted Signs. See Figure 3-24 (Painted Sign). 1. Painted signs shall not exceed 150 square feet per individual sign on the primary street frontage and 100 square feet on the secondary street frontage of a corner parcel. The signs shall count toward the maximum allowable sign area. 2. Painted signs shall be centered on structures unless otherwise determined by the Director due to existing architectural features of the structure. 3. If a structure is located on a corner parcel with two street frontages, both frontages may be used when calculating allowable sign area. 4. To ensure the readability, the minimum sign letter size shall be six inches. 5. External illumination with a hooded floodlight is permitted. Figure 3-25 Painted Sign I. Price and Menu Boards. 1. Menu Boards (Excluding Freestanding Dive-thru menu boards). See Figure 3-25 (Menu Board Sign). a. Menu boards are not counted against the maximum allowable sign area. b. Menu boards shall not exceed 30 square feet in area. c. Menu boards shall be located at the front entrance to the establishment and mounted flat against the wall. d. Internal or external illumination is permitted. Figure 3-26 Menu Board Sign 2. Freestanding Drive-thru Menu Boards. See Figure 3-26 (Freestanding Drive-thru menu Board). a. Freestanding Drive-thru menu and price boards are not counted against the maximum allowable sign area. b. Each menu board shall not exceed 12 square feet in area. c. No more than two menu boards are allowed per establishment. d. Freestanding Drive-thru menu boards shall be located along the drive-thru lane a minimum of eight feet from the entrance of the lane. e. External illumination is prohibited. f. Freestanding Drive-thru menu boards shall be placed within a landscaped bed and shall have two square feet of landscaping for every square foot of sign area measured at the base of the menu board. Figure 3-27 Freestanding Drive-thru Menu Board Sign 3. Service Station Gas Price Sign. See Figure 3-27 (Service Station Gas Price Sign). a. Service station gas price sign shall not exceed 25 square feet of sign area for each side of a double-sided sign. b. The service station gas price sign is not allowed to be located within the visibility clearance area of any driveway or intersection. c. No more than two service station gas price signs are permitted per service station. Each of the allowed two service station gas price signs is permitted to have two sides. d. External illumination is prohibited. e. Static LED price figure displays are permitted. f. Service Station Gas Price Sign shall be placed within a landscaped bed and shall have two square feet of landscaping for every square foot of sign area measured at the base of the menu board. Figure 3-28 Service Station Gas Price Sign J. Projecting Signs. See Figure 3-28 (Projecting Sign). 1. Projecting signs shall not exceed the height of the structure to which they are attached. 2. Projecting signs are not counted against the maximum allowable sign area. 3. No more than one projecting sign is permitted per street frontage. 4. Projecting signs shall not project more than five feet from the supporting wall. 5. Projecting signs shall not exceed eight square feet of sign area. 6. Projecting signs shall be no less than eight feet from grade or any underlying walkway or thoroughfare. 7. Projecting signs shall not be internally illuminated but may be floodlighted. No projecting sign shall have a clearance of less than eight feet over public sidewalks or less than 14 feet where it extends over any vehicular driveway or parking area. Figure 3-29 Projecting Sign K. Wall Signs. See Figure 3-29 (Wall Sign). 1. Wall signs shall be attached flat against a structure and parallel to the face of the structure wall. 2. Wall signs shall not project more than 12 inches from the wall and shall not project above the roof line or extend over a public sidewalk or right-of-way. 3. To ensure the readability, the minimum letter size allowed shall be six inches. Sign copy shall not be located closer than one half-letter height to the sign edge or other line of copy. 4. If a structure is situated on a corner parcel with two street frontages, both frontages may to be used when calculating allowable sign area. 5. Wall signs shall be no less than eight feet from grade or any underlying walkway or thoroughfare. Figure 3-30 Wall Sign L. Window Signs (permanent and temporary). See Figure 3-30 (Window Sign). 1. Window signs shall be allowed only on windows located on the ground floor and second story of a structure. Window signs are not allowed above the second story. 2. Window signs shall not count toward the maximum allowable sign area. 3. The placement of window signs shall allow for the bottom 24” of each window on the ground floor to be left clear for the unobstructed observation by safety personnel (e.g., Santa Clara Police Department, County Sherriff, private security, etc.). 4. Window signs shall not cover more than 25 percent of each individual window on either a primary or secondary building frontage. A window is considered to be any glazed area, including glass curtain walls. 5. Window advertisements using specialized window chalk and/or window markers are prohibited. 6. Illumination of window signs is prohibited. Figure 3-31 Window Sign